U.S. Fights Bazaarvoice Acquisition of Its Rival

By

Brent Kendall

Updated Jan. 10, 2013 9:28 p.m. ET

U.S. antitrust authorities challenged the combination of two technology companies that help big retailers collect online customer reviews, saying the merged company “effectively insulated itself from meaningful competition.”

Shares of Bazaarvoice Inc. dropped 16% Thursday on news of the Justice Department’s lawsuit challenging the company’s $168 million acquisition of rival PowerReviews Inc. in June 2012.